Cats, Pet Health
Cats and kittens can carry an intestinal parasite known as Toxoplasma in their stool, which does not necessarily pose health risks to the cats but can cause birth defects in unborn human babies. The same parasite can be found in meats that are undercooked or uncooked as well. Pregnant women who own cats should avoid exposure to the parasite by allowing others to
clean their pet’s litter box. Although the disease in cats is rare, it is always best to take extra precautions when pregnant.
For more information on this topic and many others regarding your pet, visit: www.peteducation.com
Pet Health
Here a few of the most common allergy symptoms in dogs:
-Itchy or irritated skin
-Scratching
-Watery eyes
-Itchy ears
-Sneezing
-Snoring caused by an inflamed throat
-Paw chewing/swollen paws
-Continuous licking
There are some simple solutions to preventing an allergic reaction in your dog:
-Flea control treatments will prevent allergic reactions from flea bites
-Cleaning the house and dog bedding to remove dust will help with allergic reactions to dust
-Regular bathing will remove certain allergens from the skin and provide a soothing relief for your dog
The following types of allergy medications may be available for your dog:
Ask your vet about how any of the following types of treatments could relieve your pet from the discomfort of allergies.
-Allergy injections may help to develop a resistance to certain allergens
-Antihistamines may provide some relief
-Fatty acid supplements may help with itchy skin
-Immune modulating drugs may also prove to be helpful
-Cortisone may be used in severe cases under a veterinarian’s guidance
Don’t let allergies prevent you or your pet from enjoying the great outdoors! Simply watching for the symptoms of allergies and treating them with the help of your vet, will allow you and your pets the joys of spending quality time outside.
For more information about this topic as well as many others, please visit: www.aspca.org
Cats, Pet Health, TLC News
What to do About Feral Cats in Your Scottsdale Community
The Humane Society of the United States estimates that there are as many as 50 million feral cats in the United States. It’s vital to reduce their numbers whether you’re concerned about them, indifferent, or annoyed by them. (HSUS website, 4/27/10)
What is the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat?
A stray cat is a pet that is lost or abandoned and often tries to make a home near humans (i.e. in a garage, porch or backyard.) Feral cats are the offspring of lost, abandoned, or feral cats that are not spayed or neutered. Unlike stray cats which are generally tame, feral cats are not accustomed to people making them fearful and too wild to be handled. Stray cats may be reunited with their families or adopted into new homes. Feral cats do not easily adapt or may never adapt to living as a pet. They live in groups called colonies, and take refuge wherever they can find food, such as: rodents, other small animals, and garbage. “Ear-tipping” is one way to identify feral cats. “Ear-tipping is the humane surgical removal of 1/4 tip of the left ear to let people know that a cat has been spayed or neutered already to prevent any additional surgeries”. (Humane Society of the United States Online Publication, 4/27/10).
Female cats can reproduce as young as 5 months old and have kittens two to three times a year. Many feral cats don’t survive, and if they do, their lives are not easy without humane caretakers. They may only live two years, but with the help of humans they can live up to ten years or more. Feral cats are forced to endure extreme weather, be it cold, rainy, or hot. They also struggle with starvation, infections, and attacks from other animals. “Feral cats also face eradication by humans—poison, trapping, gassing, and steel leg-hold traps are all ways humans, including some animal control and government agencies, try to kill off feral cat populations.” (ASCPA website F.AQ)
There are many things you can do to help improve the health and quality of life of feral cats:
- Take the necessary steps to find the owners of stray cats or a suitable permanent home for them.
- Some may believe that feeding a feral cat is the most humane solution. Instead, the ideal solution for handling a feral cat should be to: Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Many who are against feeding feral cats, may assume that if there is no food available, the cats will go away. However, this is not true. Feral cats are territorial animals that can survive for weeks without food, and will not easily or quickly leave their territory to search for new food sources.
- Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the most humane, efficient, and least expensive way of controlling feral cat colonies. TNR entails trapping cats, having them spayed or neutered, vaccinating them for rabies, and then returning them to their colony. Once returned, a caretaker should provide food and adequate shelter while monitoring the cats’ health.
- You can contact www.alleycat.org.com to help you trap and neuter a feral cat.
Communities Benefit From TNR
“TNR helps the community by stabilizing the population of the feral colony and, over time, reducing it. At the same time, nuisance behaviors such as spraying, loud noise and fighting are largely eliminated and no more kittens are born.” (APSCA website, F.AQ) TNR also aids communities by reducing the number of unadoptable kittens ending up in shelters in order to make space for the cats and kittens who are adoptable. In addition, feral cats that have been spayed or neutered may actually benefit communities because they provided a natural rodent control.
In-Home Pet Care, Dog Walking
Scottsdale, Arizona
480-588-1364
